Retire in Style: Discover Nebraska’s Top 5 Retirement Destinations

Imagine living on a modest salary and enjoying a tranquil retirement full of good company. Go no farther than Nebraska, also known as the “Cornhusker State.”

Nebraska has hidden jewels – quaint places full of small-town hospitality and a laid-back lifestyle – away from its expansive prairies and abundant agricultural produce.

Retirees may discover Nebraska’s top 5 retirement locations, where they can take advantage of a friendly local community, convenient access to amenities, and a decent standard of living. Thus, prepare to find your ideal retirement haven in Nebraska by packing your bags and setting out!

Seward

Based on Realtor data from February 2024, the median listing price of a home in Seward is a mere $259,000. To put things in perspective, this is over $90,000 less than the median listing price in Nebraska.

But Seward is more than just that. For example, the town’s well regarded Memorial Hospital has been serving the locals’ medical needs for well over 70 years.

For further possibilities, it’s a quick 25-minute trip to Lincoln, the second-largest city in Nebraska.

Kearney

Here, a retiree may occasionally find themselves swimming or biking at Cottonmill Park, viewing Sand Hill Cranes at Iain Nicolson Audubon Center, or spending time at the enchanting Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, all of which offer breathtaking views of the Platte River.

Retire in Style Discover Nebraska's Top 5 Retirement Destinations — Image By: Visit Kearney Nebraska

The median sales price of properties in Kearney is about $233,000. This is significantly less than the median listing price, which is approximately $349,900. Additionally, 30% of the town’s population is over 50, despite the fact that the median age is 30.

McCook

McCook quickly puts a retiree at ease and is well-known for being extraordinarily friendly—at least most of the time. A typical listing price of under $159,000 is unbeatable.

Even though McCook is not quite as fancy as Paris, retirees can find most things in town without having to take a long day journey to buy outside of the city. There’s a highly regarded community hospital in the town for healthcare needs. Anticipate a rather subdued social environment, with a median age of forty.

Papillion

Seniors who value security above all else might not need to search far. Despite being primarily residential, Papillon has good retail ratings.

Locations like Shadow Lake Towne Center, home to well-known brands like Victoria’s Secret and eateries like Freddy’s, provide nearly everything.

As this is a suburb of Omaha (it takes 20 minutes to get to downtown Omaha), retirees shouldn’t be concerned about getting to medical facilities or other amenities.

The typical age of the people living in this town is forty, and approximately thirty-six percent of them are over fifty. Nonetheless, houses in Papillion are offered for a median price of $460,300, in part due to its closeness to Omaha.

Gretna

You won’t find much better than Gretna if you’re looking for a cozy, compact home that’s yet close to Omaha. Omaha, also referred to as the “Gateway to the West,” is just twenty-five minutes away.

With plenty of paved walkways, safe and active neighborhoods, and outdoor activities at places like Schramm Park State Recreation Area, the $396,800 median house sales price could seem like a decent deal. However, the median listing price is almost forty thousand dollars more.

A retiree will make regular trips to the Holy Family Shrine if they wish to be periodically carried away to a world of unparalleled tranquility.

To Conclude

Nebraska’s retirement havens provide a range of experiences to fit any retiree’s needs, from the welcoming faces of McCook to the easy access to Omaha in Papillion.

Nebraska has a quaint village waiting to welcome you, regardless of your priorities—affordability, outdoor recreation, or accessibility to a bigger metropolis. So let go of your concerns and enjoy life at a slower pace. Find your own little piece of retirement paradise by beginning to plan your Nebraska trip right now!

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